David Willetts, the British government minister for universities and science, has announced plans to invest £200m in new teaching facilities for science and engineering at UK universities. The Government funding will be matched by an equal contribution from the private sector, which could be in the form of gifts such as equipment.
A survey of nearly 400 UK manufacturers has shown that growth in the manufacturing sector is continuing to pick up, with orders at their highest level since the start of the financial crisis. The CBI’s latest monthly Industrial Trends Survey reveals that orders rose for the fifth consecutive month, while exports orders also grew strongly.
More than 80% of female engineers in the UK are happy with their career choice and 98% find their job rewarding, according to a new survey conducted by by the engineering consultancy Atkins in partnership with BP, Rolls-Royce and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Finland's Moventas Group has acquired the wind gearbox business of its Huddersfield-based sister company, David Brown, along with its UK production plant, test facilities and service workshop. Both businesses are owned by the Glasgow-based Clyde Blowers group.
The UK manufacturing sector has maintained its strong start to the third quarter of 2013, with growth rates for output and new orders during August at their highest since 1994, according to the latest Markit/CIPS Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI). The seasonally adjusted PMI hit a two-and-a-half year high in August, and has expanded for five successive months.
Renold has started discussions with its workforce over the proposed closure of its chain factory in Bredbury, Manchester, with the possible loss of 230 jobs.
The US motion control and water management specialist Rexnord has acquired the assets of Micro Precision Gear Technology, a UK-based manufacturer of precision gears and other components, for an undisclosed sum. Micro-Precision has 85 employees and annual sales worth about $14m.
More than half of manufacturing SMEs in England are planning to spend more on new machinery and premises over the next six months – a 12% rise on the same period last year.
British manufacturers have seen a significant rise in production levels in the three months to August, as well as markedly improved order books, according to the latest monthly Industrial Trends Survey from the CBI (Confederation of British Industry).
British manufacturers are increasing their innovation in new products, technology and research, and plan to use this to expand their activities in emerging markets over the coming three years, according to a new survey from EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation and NatWest Bank.
The Swedish compressor giant Atlas Copco is buying the British vacuum pump specialist, Edwards, for up to SEK10.6bn ($1.6bn). Edwards, whose headquarters are in Crawley, UK, has more than 3,200 employees and generated revenues worth £595m in 2012, more than half of this coming from Asia.
Magnomatics, the Sheffield-based developer of magnetic transmissions and ultra-compact and efficient motors and generators, is planning to add at least 41 new jobs, after winning a £1m regional growth fund (RGF) grant.
The Bournemouth-based geared motor manufacturer Parvalux has introduced a service that allows it to deliver proof-of-concept gearbox prototypes in as little as two days.
EEF, the UK manufacturers’ organisation, has upgraded its growth forecasts for this year and next, but warned of significant risks if investment does not make up the ground lost in the past five years.
The upturn in UK manufacturing continued to build momentum at the start of the third quarter, with growth rates for production and new orders at their highest levels since February 2011, according to the latest Markit/CIPS Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI).
